Method and apparatus for moving the stitches of a knitted tubular article to an operating station

ABSTRACT

Method of handling or moving the stitches of a textile article, the method comprising removing the stitches from the needles of a textile machine by with the transferring article is formed at a first station, transferring the article from said first station to a second operating station, said transfer being operated by engaging the said stitches with a plurality of members intended for the removal of same stitches form the needles of the textile machine and transferring said members from said first station to said second station, characterized in that it comprises the reversible transfer of at least one portion of said removal members from a first support or carrier which is being movable from said first and second stations to a second support or carrier intended for temporary retaining the said at least one portion of removal members along with the stitches being removed by them, and/or the reversible transfer of a plurality of members, intended for the temporary retention of the stitches and not involved in the removal of same stitches from said needles, between two movable supports or carriers.

The present invention refers to a method and apparatus for handling ormoving the stitches of a knitted article.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,570,591 and 5,487,281 deal with the joining of two endedges of a tubular knitted article through a hook-up operation performedonto the right-side out article in correspondence of the machine whichknits the article and, respectively, in correspondence of a station fora hook-up operation distinct from the knitting operation.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,091 discloses a method of joining two terminal edgesof tubular knitted article, which method makes it possible to carry outsaid junction by a hook-up operation involving either the right-side outor the inside-out part of the article. In particular, provision is madefor possibly carrying out the hook-up operation on the inner orinside-out part of the article by removing the latter beforehand fromthe knitting machine and then moving it on to a hook-up stationdifferent from that for knitting. However, this known operatingtechnique brings about some drawbacks deriving from the fact thatprovision is made for repeatedly transferring the stitches of the linkededges between a plurality of members for the removal and, moregenerally, the handling of same stitches. In particular, this techniqueimplies that the said stitched are more likely to be missed or damagedand, in any case, of being subjected to mechanical stress which,especially when using yarns of lower quality, may be cause forunsuccessful operations. Moreover, the means used result somewhatcomplex and, accordingly, considered too expensive in relation to theoutcome. The above holds true also in case the knitting is performed byeither a one-cylinder or two-cylinder machine.

The main object of the present invention is to overcome the abovedrawbacks by ensuring in any case the possibility of joining twoterminal edges of a tubular knitted machine through a hook-up operationwhich can be performed also on the inner or inside-out part of thearticle.

This result has been achieved, according to the invention, by devisingan operating method and providing a device having the characteristicsindicated in the independent claims. Further characteristics of thepresent invention being set forth in the dependent claims.

The advantages of the present invention lies essentially in that thestitches to be handled or moved result subjected to minor stresses,which allows using, where deeming it suitable or necessary for economy,yarns of lower quality. In addition, the risk of damaging the stitches,as well as of hold-failure or disengagement of them from the handlingmembers handling in the course of treatment, is reduced. Also worth ofbeing pointed out is the relative constructional simplicity of thepresent apparatus which allows reducing the manufacturing and operatingcosts thereof. Moreover, the invention makes it possible to perform afinal hook-up operation both of the right-side out and inside-out partof the article, in correspondence of the two edges thereof to be unitedby a hook-up operation, such as in the case of stockings manufacturing,and this by knitting the stockings with machines of one-cylinder as wellas two-cylinder type.

These and other advantages and characteristics of the invention will bebest understood from a reading of the following description inconjunction with the attached drawings given as a practicalexemplification of the invention, but not to be considered in alimitative sense, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view in diametral section of one-cylinder circularmachine in a condition of end-of-knitting of a stocking, with the platebeing still down;

FIG. 2A shows the machine of FIG. 1 with the plate and the knittingneedles being lifted, the stitches of the last knitted rank resulting inthe so-called “unloaded” position;

FIGS. 2B and 2C show, in different scales, enlarged details of thedrawing in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A shows a first movable carrier with the stitch-removing membersdisposed onto the needles of the machine of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4A shows the said first movable carrier as it comes down togetherwith the knitting needles to allow the transfer of the stitches of thelast knitted rank from the removal members supported by the movablecarrier;

FIGS. 3B and 4B show, respectively, enlarged details of FIGS. 3A and 4Arelating to the procedure for closing the latch of one needle where thestitch surface of the sinkers is used as a cast-off plane;

FIGS. 3C and 4C show, respectively, enlarged details of FIGS. 3A and 4Arelating to the procedure for closing the latch of one needle where theupper or “beak” surface of the sinkers is used as a cast-off plane;

FIG. 5 shows the step of lifting the first movable carrier with thearticle being disengaged from the knitting needles and engaged with thesaid removal members;

FIG. 6 shows the step of moving a safety device close to the firstmovable carrier being lifted up;

FIG. 7 shows the first movable carrier and the safety device in thehook-up station, with a an eversion tube being inserted into thearticle, and a second movable carrier being disposed coaxial with thefirst movable carrier;

FIG. 8 shows the step of lifting said eversion tube and of moving thetwo movable carrier close to each other;

FIG. 9 shows the final step of transferring the stitch-removing membersfrom the first movable carrier to the second one;

FIG. 10 shows the step of moving a third to the second movable carrier,with the approach of the means supported by the third movable carrier tothe stitch-removing members supported by the second movable carrier, andthe transfer of stitches from the members of the second carrier to thethird one;

FIG. 11 shows the moving of the second movable carrier away from thethird one;

FIG. 12 shows the step of positioning the stitches of a semirank incorrespondence of those of the other semirank, the stitches involved inthis step being those fitted beforehand onto said removal members;

FIG. 13 shows the step of drawing and juxtaposing the stitches of thefirst semirank near the corresponding stitches of the second semirank;

FIG. 14 shows the restoration of the initial configuration of the thirdmovable carrier;

FIG. 15 shows the step of hooking-up pairs of thus formed stitches;

FIG. 16 shows the step of releasing the article after the hooking-up ofthe edges corresponding to said semiranks;

FIG. 17 shows the transfer of said members for the removal of stitchesof last-knitted rank from the second to the first movable carriersubsequently to the moving away of third carrier;

FIG. 18 shows the step of moving the second movable carrier away fromthe first one, that is, the restoration of the initial conditions;

FIG. 19 shows, reference being made to a further exemplary embodiment ofthe invention, a first movable carrier having members associatedtherewith for the removal of stitches of the last-knitted rank, the saidfirst movable carrier being disposed so that the said removal memberswill result upon the needles of the knitting machine, the said needlesbeing lifted up as shown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 20 shows the step of lowering the movable carrier of FIG. 19 alongwith the knitting needles;

FIG. 21 shows the lifting of the movable carrier of FIG. 19 with thearticle being disengaged from the knitting needles and engaged with theremoval members associated with same carrier;

FIG. 22 shows the positioning of a safety device;

FIG. 23 shows the introduction of an eversion tube inside the article ata hook-up station separated from the knitting station;

FIG. 24 shows the lifting of the eversion tube of FIG. 23, subsequentlyto the moving away of the safety device, and the drawing of a secondmovable carrier near the first one to allow the transfer of thestitch-removing members from the first movable carrier to the secondone;

FIG. 25 shows the moving of the first movable carrier away from thesecond one;

FIG. 26 shows the step of drawing a third movable carrier near a portionof the second movable carrier, the said third carrier exhibiting aplurality of hook-up spines;

FIG. 27 shows the step of transferring the stitches of a semirank fromthe respective removal members, associated with the second movablecarrier, to the spines of the third carrier;

FIG. 28 shows the moving of the second movable carrier away from thethird carrier;

FIG. 29 shows the positioning of the stitches associated with saidspines in correspondence of the stitches of the other semirank;

FIG. 30 shows the subsequent step of juxtaposing the stitches of saidother semirank Over those fitted on said spines;

FIG. 31 shows the repositioning of the spines in the condition of FIG.28;

FIG. 32 shows the moving away of the first movable carrier beingpartially rearranged;

FIG. 33 shows the step of hooking-up the edges corresponding to the thusdisposed semiranks of stitches;

FIG. 34 shows the step of releasing the article from the hold of thespines;

FIG. 35 shows the transfer of said stitch-removing members from thesecond movable carrier to the first carrier for the full rearrangementof the latter;

FIG. 36 shows the moving away of the second movable carrier withrestoration of the initial conditions;

FIG. 37 shows a plan view of the first movable carrier illustrated inFIGS. 3A-18;

FIG. 38 shows an enlarged detail in longitudinal section of the carrierof FIG. 37 in a condition of non retention of the stitch-removingmembers;

FIG. 39 shows the detail of FIG. 38 in a condition of retention of thestitch-removing members;

FIGS. 40 and 41 show an enlarged detail in longitudinal section of thecarrier of FIG. 37, according to a further embodiment, in a condition ofnon-retention (FIG. 41) of the stitch-removing members;

FIG. 42 is a plan view of the third movable carrier of FIGS. 3A-18;

FIG. 43 shows the carrier of FIG. 42 in closed or operating condition;

FIG. 44 is a section view taken on line A—A in FIG. 43;

FIG. 45 shows the carrier of FIG. 43 after the rotation of a semicrown;

FIG. 46 is a view in section view taken on line B—B in FIG. 45;

FIG. 47 is a plan view of said three movable carriers in coaxialcondition at the hook-up station;

FIG. 48 is a section view taken on line C—C in FIG. 47 showing also thesecond movable carrier and other parts in section other than those takenon line C—C;

FIG. 49 is a side view partially in section of the third movable carriershown in FIGS. 26-34;

FIG. 50 is a plan view of the carrier of FIG. 49;

FIG. 51 is a section view taken on line D—D in FIG. 50;

FIG. 52 is a plan view of the carrier of FIG. 49 after a rotationthrough 180°;

FIG. 53 is a section view taken on line E—E in FIG. 52;

FIG. 54 is a diametral section view of the apparatus with the threemovable carriers shown in FIGS. 19-36 in coaxial condition;

FIG. 55 is a side view of a stitch-removing member;

FIG. 56 is a view in longitudinal section of the member of FIG. 55;

FIG. 57 is an axonometric view of the member shown in FIG. 55;

FIG. 58 is a side view of a stitch-removing member according to afurther embodiment;

FIG. 59 is a view in longitudinal section of the member of FIG. 58;

FIG. 60 is an axonometric view of the member shown in FIG. 58;

FIG. 61 is a side view of a stitch-removing member according to afurther embodiment;

FIG. 62 is a view in longitudinal section of the member of FIG. 61;

FIG. 63 is an axonometric view of the member shown in FIG. 61;

FIG. 64 is a schematic view in diametral section of two-cylindercircular machine in a condition of end-of-knitting of a stocking, withthe upper cylinder being still down;

FIG. 65 shows the machine of FIG. 64 with the upper cylinder beinglifted up, the stitches of the last knitted rank resulting in theso-called “unloaded” position;

FIG. 66 shows a first movable carrier with stitch-removing membersdisposed above the needles of the lower cylinder of the machine of FIG.64;

FIGS. 67 and 68 show the said first movable carrier as it goes downtowards the lower cylinder to allow the transfer of the stitches of thelast knitted rank from the needles to the removal members supported bythe movable carrier;

FIG. 69 shows the lifting of the movable carrier with the article beingdisengaged from the knitting needles of the lower cylinder and engagedwith said removal members;

FIG. 70 shows the drawing of a safety device near the first movablecarrier being lifted up;

FIG. 71 is a schematic view in diametral section of one-cylindercircular machine with the plate and knitting needles being lifted up,the stitches of the last knitted rank resulting in the so-called“unloaded” position;

FIG. 72 shows a first movable carrier with the stitch-removing membersbeing disposed onto the needles of the machine of FIG. 71 and withexternal means able to define a cast-off plane for the removal of thestitches;

FIG. 73 shows the said first movable carrier in a step of transferringthe last knitted rank from the needles of the machine of FIG. 71 to theremoval members supported by the same movable carrier;

FIG. 74 shows the step of lifting the first movable carrier with thearticle being disengaged from the knitting needles and engaged with thesaid removal members, this step being the one in which the said meansdefining the cast-off plane act as a safety device to prevent thespontaneous release or hold-failure of the stitches;

FIG. 75 shows the first movable carrier and the said means acting as asafety device in the hook-up station, with an eversion tube beingintroduced into the article and with a second movable carrier disposedcoaxial with the first movable carrier;

FIG. 76 shows a step which precedes the approach of the two movablecarriers, this step being the one in which the said means acting as asafety device are deactivated;

FIG. 77 is a side partial side view with parts in section of a firstmovable carrier with the stitch-removing members being moved close tothe needles and with the means apt to define a cast-off plane being off;

FIG. 78 shows the example of FIG. 77, with the said means apt to definea cast-off plane being activated likewise illustrated in FIG. 72;

FIG. 79 shows the example of FIG. 77, with the said means apt to definea cast-off plane being activated after the removal similarly to what isillustrated in FIG. 74;

FIG. 80 shows the example of FIG. 79, with the said means apt to definea cast-off plane being activated after a removal like that illustratedin FIG. 76;

FIG. 81 is a partial side view with parts in section of a first movablecarrier, with the stitch-removing members being moved close to theneedles, and where a further exemplary embodiment is shown of the meansable to define a cast-off plane, said means being deactivated;

FIG. 82 refers to the example of FIG. 81 and shows a step in which thesaid means apt to define a cast-off plane are activated;

FIG. 83 shows an enlarged detail, in longitudinal section, of the secondcarrier (SE) in a condition of non-retention of the stitch-removingmembers;

FIG. 84 shows the detail of FIG. 83 in a condition of non-retention ofthe stitch-removing members;

FIGS. 85 and 86 show an enlarged detail, in longitudinal section, of thesecond carrier (SE) according to a further embodiment, in a condition ofnon-retention (FIG. 85) of the stitch-removing members;

FIG. 87 shows a plan view relative to a possible embodiment of thetransfer rod (12);

FIG. 88 is a schematic rear view of the transfer rod of FIG. 87;

FIGS. 89 and 90 are two views in diametral section of an exemplaryembodiment relating to a possible way of using the transfer rodillustrated in FIGS. 87 and 88, said rod being in stand-by (FIG. 89) andrespectively work (FIG. 90) position;

FIG. 91 shows the step of ending the knitting of a stocking by atwo-cylinder circular machine, with the stocking being in the uppercylinder;

FIG. 92 shows a subsequent step in which the knitting needles aretransferred from the lower to the upper cylinder;

FIG. 93 shows the lifting of the upper cylinder;

FIG. 94 shows the step of moving the first movable carrier between thelower and the upper cylinder, the latter being lifted up;

FIG. 95 shows the drawing of the first movable carrier near the needlesassociated with the upper cylinder;

FIG. 96 shows the step of removing the stitches of the last knitted rankof the stocking of FIG. 91;

FIG. 97 shows the lowering of the first movable carrier with thestitches of the last knitted rank being now engaged with the removalmembers mounted on said carrier;

FIG. 98 shows the drawing up of a possible safety device;

FIG. 99 shows the introduction of an eversion tube into the articlebeing transferred to a station other than that for knitting;

FIG. 100 shows the moving of the second movable carrier close to thefirst one and the turning right-side out of the stocking with a upwardsmovement of said everter tube;

FIG. 101 shows the transfer of said stitch-removing members from thefirst movable carrier to the first one;

FIG. 102 shows the moving of the third movable carrier close to thesecond;

FIG. 103 shows the moving of the second movable carrier away from thethird;

FIG. 104 shows an overturning through 180° of a semirank of stitches;

FIG. 105 shows a transfer of the overturned stitches onto the spineswhich support the stitches of the other semirank;

FIG. 106 shows the repositioning of the third movable carrier into itsinitial configuration;

FIG. 107 shows the step of hooking-up the article;

FIG. 108 the release of the stitches already retained by the saidspines;

FIG. 109 shows a possible step of everting the stocking being released;

FIG. 110 shows the transfer of the stitch-removing members from thesecond movable carrier to the first one;

FIG. 111 shows the moving of the second movable carrier away from thefirst one;

FIGS. 112, 113 and 114 show a side view, a front view and respectively aplan view of the stitch-removing member according to a furtherembodiment;

FIG. 115 shows, in perspective view, a modified embodiment of the membershown in FIGS. 112-114;

FIGS. 116-127 correspond to FIGS. 7-18 but refer to a modifiedembodiment of the process according to the invention;

FIG. 128 shows a detail of the apparatus that can be used to implementthe method of FIGS. 116-127;ù

FIG. 129 is a view in diametral section of the apparatus of FIG. 128;

FIG. 130 shows an enlarged detail of the drawing in FIG. 128;

FIGS. 131 and 132 show a detail of the apparatus that can be used toimplement the method of FIGS. 116-127 in a non-retention andrespectively retention or locking configuration of the rods (9);

FIGS. 133 and 134 show a variation of the apparatus illustrated in FIGS.131 and 132;

FIGS. 135-137 show three views of a spine associable with the apparatusof FIG. 128;

FIG. 138 is a view in section on line U—U in FIG. 135;

FIGS. 139-147 show diagrammatically a case of handling the stitches of astraight, instead of a tubular fabric.

Reduced to its basic structure and reference being made, in particular,to FIGS. 1-18 of the attached drawings, an operative method according tothe invention, related to the manufacturing of a stocking by means of aone-cylinder circular machine (M) provided with plate, includes thefollowing steps:

knitting a stocking (1) starting from the leg portion and ending up withthe formation of a rank of terminal stitches corresponding to thestocking's toe portion which results open (FIG. 1), the knitting of thearticle (1) being carried out in a traditional manner by using acircular machine (M) provided with needles (2) mounted on a verticalsupport cylinder (3) and movable vertically thereon. The upper part ofeach of said needles (2) is positioned between two sinkers (4) orientedradially with respect to the cylinder (3) and which, in the whole, forma circular front in correspondence of the upper base of same cylinder.Provided inside the cylinder (3) is a tube (T) connected to a suctionpump within which the article (1) is formed in the course of theknitting. The plate group comprises the very plate (5) of circularconfiguration, movable from and to the machine (M) and supporting aplurality of radial crooks (6). In the course of the knitting, the plategroup (2) is drawn near the machine (M) as illustrated in FIG. 1. Uponcompletion of the knitting, such group is moved away from the machine(M) as illustrated in FIG. 2A. The very knitting is carried out byforming a tubular assembly of linked loops or stitches by using one ormore threads (not shown in the drawing) worked by the needles (2) incooperation with the sinkers (4). The crooks (6) of the plate (5) can beused to make special parts of the article (1) such as a double edge ofthe hem. The crooks (6) and the needles (2) are suitable driven in phasebetween them and with the sinkers (4) by a system of cams acting oncorresponding operating heels (20, 40, 60). For the sake of simplicity,FIG. 2A shows only the cams (400) with sinkers (4). A machine of thistype is well known and available on the market. For example, use can bemade of a machine model “Star” or “4100”, or “Fantasia”, or also“Tornado”, all made in Italy by the company Sangiacomo S.p.A., or of anyother equivalent machine;

upon completion of said knitting step, lifting the plate group (P) andthe needles (2) of the machine (M) until the respective stitches areunloaded (FIG. 2A); in jargon, it is said that the stitch is in“unloaded position” when it results onto a needle below the relevantlatch (219;

transferring the stitches (MA) of the last rank of the article (1) fromthe needles (2) to a plurality of corresponding removal members (7)disposed on a first movable carrier (PE) so that, upon completion ofthis step, each stitch (MA) of the last knitted rank will resulttransferred from the respective needle (2) to a corresponding removalmember (7). To carry out this step, the members (7) for removing thestitches from needles (2) may be mounted in a stable but removablemanner, as best described later on, onto a first movable carrier (PE).The latter, after lifting the plate (P), is disposed in axial alignmentwith the needles cylinder, so that the free end of each removal member(7) will result in contact with the crook (22) of a corresponding needle(2), as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, thereby determining a so-called“covering” condition allowing each stitch to be transferred from therespective needle (2) to the respective removal member (7) with noobstacle, that is, without being intercepted by the needle's crook.Under this condition, the crook is actually overlapped by the free endof member (7) which forms a cap onto the crook. Thereafter, the saidcarrier (PE) is lowered, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B along with theneedles (2) by placing the latter below the “cast-off plane” so that, atthe end of this last step, each stitch will result fitted onto acorresponding removal member (7) also because of the automatic closingof latches (21) which result positioned as shown in FIG. 4B. Inpractice, by the lowering of carrier (PE) and needles (2), the members(7) take up the place of the latter by enetering the stitches of thelast rank. According to the example of FIGS. 3B and 4B, the plane usedas a cast-off surface is the one in which the stitches are formed, thatis, the so-called stitch plane (PM) of the sinkers. In the exampleillustrated in FIGS. 3C and 4C, the cast-off plane used is the uppersurface (PS) of the sinkers (also called beak). In practice, as meant inthe present description, the “cast-off plane” is a surface fortemporarily supporting or retaining the stitches (MA), and beyond whichthe stitches (MA) cannot be pushed. Accordingly, when the stitches (MA)lie in such a plane, the lowering of the needles (2) and the concurrentlowering of members (7) cause the passage or transfer of the stitches(MA) from the needles (2) to the members (7);

lifting said removal members (7) together with the article (1), thelatter being engaged with removal members (7) via the stitches (MA) ofthe last rank. This step can be carried out by lifting the movablecarrier (PE) and tube (T) at the same time, so that the mouth of thelatter will result at a height greater than that of the free ends of theremoval members (7), as illustrated in FIG. 5. The lifting of tube (T)is not strictly necessary to carry out this step but it may serve toassist the lifting of article (1) simultaneously to the carrier (PE),and to prevent the disengagement of one or more stitches from therespective removal members (7). In addition, to allow the subsequentstep of moving the article (1) away from station (TS) in which themachine (M) works, and thus allowing the re-lowering of the tube (T)without this endangering the association of the stitches with therespective removal members (7), use can be made of a safety device (8)made up, for example, of a portion of a circular crown borne at the endof a support arm (800) being movable from and to the carrier (PE) toaccompany the article to the subsequent station (where it will be thenmoved away therefrom to allow the insertion of a second movable carrier(SE) (FIG. 6);

disposing the article (1) in a station (R) other than that for knitting(TS) and inserting an everter tube (TR) thereinto; this step beingpossibly performed by taking the carrier (PE) to said station (R),together with device (8) if any. The eversion tube (TR) may be a tubewith vertical axis (v-v) connected to a suction pump of a type commonlyused in hosiery machines;

turning the article (1) inside out, this step can be performed bylifting the tube (TR), as illustrated in FIG. 8, after having moved awaythe device (8) if used. In this way, the article will result oriented ina manner opposite to the initial one, that is, with the part comprisingthe last rank of stitches turned upwards, so that the stitches of thelatter rank will result below all the other stitches of the article;

transferring the said removal members (7) from said movable carrier (PE)to a second movable carrier (SE); this step can be carried out by movingthe second movable carrier (SE) close to the first (PE), as illustratedin FIG. 8 and, upon completion of transfer, by moving the first movablecarrier (PE) away from the second (SE), as illustrated in FIG. 9. At theend of this step, the free ends of the members (7) will result thosepreviously engaged with the first carrier (PE) and, vice versa, thosepreviously free will result engaged with the second movable carrier(SE). Described later on are possible ways of making the carriers (PE)and (SE). The fact of transferring the members (7) from the first to thesecond carrier, along with the stitches engaged therewith, causes thetransfer of the article (1) to the second carrier without subjecting thestitches to any corresponding stress. In other words, in this step, thetransfer of stitches (MA) of article (1) from the first to the secondsupport carrier is made by involving only the members (7) and notdirectly the stitches engaged therewith, so that said stitches are notsubjected to any stress related to said transfer;

transferring the stitches of the last rank of said removal members (7)to a corresponding plurality of retention members (9, 10), the latterhaving the function of blocking the said stitches for a subsequenthook-up step and being disposed onto a third movable carrier (TE); thesaid stitch-retaining members for the hook-up (9, 10) may consist, asbest described later on, of a plurality of rods (9) of a shape similarto that of members (7), and of a plurality of hook-up spines as wellmounted on two relevant supporting semicrowns. The transfer of thestitches from the members (7) to the rods (9) and to the spines (10) maybe made by using a collar flange (11) coaxial to the second carrier (SE)and movable vertically from and to the third carrier (TE). When theflange (11) is lifted, that is, moved towards the third movable carrier(TE), its upper part comes in contact with the stitches fitted onto themembers (7) of the second carrier (SE) by pushing them upwards untilthey fit on the rods (9) and spines (10), these being coaxial with theremoval members (7) as illustrated in FIG. 10. Upon completion of thisstep, the article will no longer be engaged with the members (7)transferred onto the second carrier (SE), but will result engaged wihtthe members (9, 10) of the third movable carrier (TE), with the stitchesof a semirank fitted on the rods (9) and with the stitches of the othersemirank fitted on the spines (10);

disposing the stitches of a semirank coaxial and juxtaposed to thestitches of the other semirank, that is, in a preset hook-upconfiguration; this step can be carried out by moving the second movablecarrier (SE) away from the third (FIG. 11), by rotating the semicrown ofthe rods (9) through 180° (for example downwards, as illustrated in FIG.12), then by transferring onto the spines (10) the stitched fitted onrods (9) and finally by bringing the semicrown of rods (9) back to itsstarting position (FIG. 14). The transfer of the stitches from the rods(9) to the spines (10) can be performed by using a semicrown-shaped pushrod (12) acting on the stitches present on the rods (9) in the same wayas the collar flange (11) comes to act on the stitches fitted on themembers (7) previously mentioned. Upon completion of this step, thestitches of the two semiranks, into which the last rank (MA) of stitchesof article (1) may be considered virtually divided, result fitted inpairs, coaxial and juxtaposed, onto the spines (10) ready forhooking-up; each of said pairs being formed by a preset stitch of asemirank and a preset stitch of the other semirank;

performing the hook-up of the stitches so disposed ending the hook-upwith the formation of one or more closing knots (FIG. 15); this step canbe carried out by using a hook-up needle (13) being constructed, fed anddriven by a normal hook-up device (RI) in a conventional manner. At theend of this step, the article (1) which initially had both ends opened,results with the tip end closed by the hook-up operated on the inner orinside-out part;

releasing the stitches thus linked (FIG. 16). This step can be performedby lowering the eversion tube (TR) and using a rod (14) introduced intothe same tube (TR) over such a length as to determine the turningright-side out of the article (1) which, in this way, is introduced intothe tube (TR) and finally aspirated to be ejected in right-side outcondition (in FIG. 16, AS indicates the suction direction);

transferring the said stitch-removing members (7) from the second (SE)to the first movable carrier (PE) (FIGS. 17 and 18). This step can becarried out with procedures corresponding to those for the transfer ofmembers (7) from the first (PE) to the second movable carrier (SE) butin reverse order.

Described herebelow with reference to the examples of FIGS. 37-63 is anapparatus to be used for implementing the operating method.

As previously mentioned, the machine (M) and the plate group (P) withrespective drive members, may be of a type already available on themarket and, accordingly, it will not be described in further detail. Thesame applies to the hook-up device (RI).

The said first carrier (PE) may consist, for example, of a circularcrown structure with two circular concentric elements (150, 151) which,in cooperation with each other, delimit a plurality of seats (157) toreceive therein in a stable by removable way, the said removal members(7). These are angularly spaced apart like the needles (2) of themachine (M) and result oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis (a-a)of said circular concentric elements (150, 151). With reference to FIGS.38-41, between said elements (150, 151) and, more specifically, betweenthe seats for members (7) and the inner wall of the outermost element(150) of pair (150, 151), a annular gasket (152) is positioned, such asof rubber or other elastically deformable material. The gasket is pushedradially outwardly from the inside, by increasing its diameter when itis desired to lock the members (7) in the respective seats. Vice versa,when the members (7) are to be released to allow the transfer of themonto the second movable carrier (SE), the diameter of the same gasket(152) is reduced. To this end, reference being made to FIGS. 38 and 39of the attached drawings, an annular wedge (153) may be interposedbetween the gasket (152) and the innermost element (151) of crown (150,151), the said wedge (153) being associated with a straight actuator(154), for example of electromagnetic or equivalent type, to allow thewedge to be moved vertically between a lifted position in which it doesnot interfere with the gasket (152), as illustrated in FIG. 38, and alowered position (FIG. 39) in which it does interfere with the gasket(152) by pushing it radially inwardly. In the configuration of FIG. 38,the members (7) are free, whereas in the configuration of FIG. 39, themembers (7) are blocked to the crown (150, 151) because they arecompressed between the enlarged gasket (152) and the inner wall ofelement (150). In place of the said wedge, compressed air may be used toenlarge the gasket (152). More particularly, with reference to FIGS. 40and 41 of the attached drawings, the said elements (150, 151) of crown(15) may exhibit two ports (155, 156) in communication with each otherand with a source of compressed air via a solenoid valve (not shown),the port (156) of innermost element (151) being in communication withthe seat of gasket (152). In order to block the members (7) to the crown(150, 151) as shown in FIG. 41, compressed air (or other suitable fluid)is introduced within the seat of gasket (152) through the said ports(155, 156). To release the members (7), as shown in FIG. 40, thecompressed air is discharged through the same ports.

As far as the said members (7) are concerned, these may be made up, withreference to the examples of FIGS. 55-57, of metal rods with ends (70,71) suitably shaped to be able to fit with the needles (2) of machine(M) and with spines (10) and rods (9) of the third movable carrier (TE)thereby determining in both case the “covering” condition previouslydefined. In addition, and advantageously as illustrated in the exemplarydrawings of FIGS. 58-60, the said members (7) may exhibit lateralrecesses (72) to further assist the locking by the gasket (152) which,once enlarged, is able to fit within the same recesses. By referring nowto FIGS. 61-63, the end (71) of rods (7) instead of being shaped like acap, it may be so shaped as to present a notch.

With reference to the example illustrated in FIGS. 112-115, the members(7) can be made of a metal sheet bent over to present a U-shapedcross-section and thus to delimit a longitudinal inner channel, with apossible necking of section (700) (as illustrated in FIG. 115) toprevent the transit of needles beyond the narrowed section.

The said crown (150, 151) is attached to a horizontal arm (16) which, onthe opposite side, is cantilever fixed on a shaft (17) with verticalaxis (b-b) and extends beyond the same shaft by a portion (160) so as todefine a kind of lever having its fulcrum in correspondence of shaft(16). The latter, as viewed also in FIGS. 47 and 48, is supported by abase (170) and engaged on top with a stationary bracket (171). The saidarm (16) can be rotated about the shaft (17) so as to move and disposethe said first movable carrier (PE), with crown (150, 151) andstitch-removing members (7), into station (TS) for the knitting ofarticle (1) and respectively into the hooking-up station (R).

The rotation of arm (16) may be obtained, for example, by means of anactuator (172) whose stem is fixed to the portion (160) of the arm (16)resulting on the side opposite to the one which carries the crown (150,151), the skirt of the actuator (172) being solid to a stationarystructure (H).

In this embodiment, the said shaft (17) is mounted for slidingvertically with respect to supports (170, 171) under control of anactuator (18) allowing the corresponding lifting and lowering of the arm(16) with carrier (PE) as required. As illustrated in FIG. 48, the saidactuator (18) may be disposed below the shaft (17), inside a sleeve (15)acting also as a vertical guide for the same shaft (17).

The arm (800) supporting the safety crown (8) may be mounted forrotation around said shaft (17) under control of a correspondingactuator (810) whose skirt is engaged with the arm (16) of the firstcarrier (PE) and whose stem acts upon a rear appendix of the arm (800).

The said second movable carrier (SE) is located, according to theexample of FIGS. 48 and 54, at the hook-up station (R), associated withan actuator (not shown) which causes it to be lifted and lowered, thatis, moved from and to the first and third movable carriers (PE, TE) inthe same station (R). More specifically, the second movable carrier (SE)is constructed like the first (PE), as it comprises two concentriccrowns (19, 190) able to define a plurality of seats (191) for thestitch-removing members (7) and between which an annular gasket (152) islocated for locking and respectively releasing the members (7) likewiseit is provided for the first movable carrier (PE) and as illustrated inFIGS. 83-86.

The third movable carrier (TE) comprises, with reference to the exampleillustrated in FIGS. 42-48, two semicrowns (30, 31). Mounted on thefirst of these semicrowns is a plurality of hook-up spines (10), on theother semicrown (31) being mounted a corresponding plurality of rods(9). The angular displacement between the rods (9) and, respectively,between the spines (10) corresponds to the distance between the needles(2) of the machine (M). Each of said semicrowns (30, 31) is onto acorresponding support arm (32, 33). The said arms (32, 33) are connectedto each other in correspondence of a lateral appendix (320) of arm (32)of the semicrown which supports the spines (10), via a hinge (323) whoseaxis is orthogonal to the same arms to allow moving the semicrowns (30,31) like the jaws of a gripper. This movement can be obtained, forexample, by an actuator (324) the stem of which is fixed to a lateralappendix (350) of the arm (33), the skirt being fixed to the arm (32).The extension of the stem of actuator (324) makes it possible to movethe semicrowns (30, 31) away from each other as shown in FIG. 42,whereas the drawing back of same stem causes the semicrowns (30, 31) tomove close to each other as shown in FIG. 43. In this way, it ispossible to use the third movable carrier (TE) also when the eversiontube (TR) is present at station (R) as shown in FIG. 10: firstly, thesemicrowns (30, 31) are moved apart, that is, disposed in the conditionof FIG. 42 and then, once they are placed in the station (R), are drawnnear to each other, that is, disposed in the condition of FIG. 43 forencircling the tube (TR). Besides, the arm (33) of the semicrown (31)which supports the rods (9) is fitted onto the shaft of a rotaryactuator, for example an electric motor or a pneumatic actuator (34), toallow the semicrown (31) to rotate through 180° about an axis (s-s)parallel to a diameter thereof, that is, to allow the overturning ofsemicrown (31) over the semicrown (30), as illustrated in FIGS. 12, 13,45 and 46. The arm (32) which supports the semicrowns (30, 31) is idlymounted on the shaft (17), at a height less than that for the mountingof arm (16) supporting the first carrier (PE), and is associated with acorresponding actuator (322) whose stem is connected to a rear appendix(321) of arm (32), the skirt of the actuator (322) being connected to astationary structure (K). The third carrier (TE) is brought to thestation (R) subsequently to the transfer of members (7) from the first(PE) to the second carrier (SE) and, prior to said transfer, is placedout of station (R) in a stand-by position (not shown in the figures ofthe attached drawings). The rotation of arm (32) for disposing thecarrier (TE) at station (R) and respectively at said stand-by positionis operated by the actuator (322).

With the third carrier (TE) can be advantageously associated a toothedsemicrown (12) able to operate the transfer of stitches from the rods(9) to spines (10), subsequently to the overturning of the semicrown(31).

The said semicrown (12) can be mounted onto the semicrown (31) of rods(9) by means of two helical retention springs (101) which, on one side,are fixed inside corresponding seats (102) provided by the semicrown(31) and, on the opposite side, are engaged in correspondence ofrespective seats (103) provided by the semicrown (12).

The toothing's pitch of semicrown (12) is such that each tooth (100) ofthe latter will result disposed within the space between two adjacentrods (9).

The action of springs (101) is such as to retain the semicrown (12) ontothe semicrown (31), as shown in FIG. 89.

To transfer the stitches (MA) from the rods (9) to spines (10), thesemicrown (12) is pushed towards the spines (10), as shown in FIG. 90,by winning the elastic resistance of springs (101), so that the teeth(100) will correspondingly push the stitches (MA) fitted on rods (9)until the same stitches will result transferred onto the spines (10)ready to receive them. To this end, a fork pusher (104) is provideddriven by an actuator (105). The two arms (106) of the fork (104) areintended for acting onto the semicrown (12) by passing through two holes(107) formed within the body of the semicrown (31). The bracket (108)which connects the arms of the fork (104) is also shaped like a circularsemicrown in order not to interfere with the tube (TR) in the station(R) and, for the same purpose, the actuator (105) is engaged with astationary structure (Y) so as to act on the bracket (108) at the point(Z) furthest away from the axis of the tube (TR).

The operation of this apparatus, in relation to the implementation ofthe operating method above described with reference to FIGS. 1-18, is asfollows.

After completing the knitting of article (1) and having lifted the plate(P) along with needles (2) to have the latter ready for unloading thestitches, the arm (16) is rotated by the cylinder (172) about the axis(b-b) of shaft (17), so as to dispose the first movable carrier (PE)coaxial with needles cylinder (3), as shown in FIG. 3. Moreover, as therods (7) of carrier (PE) are angularly spaced apart like the needles(2), the subsequent lowering of carrier (PE) is cause for the rods (7)to push the needles (2) downwardly, as shown in FIG. 4, which determinesthe automatic closing of the respective latches (21) and the insertionof the same rods into the stitches (MA) of the last knitted rank. Inthis way, the stitches of the last rank will result no longer engagedwith the needles (2) but with the rods (7), owing to the typicalelasticity of the stitches and to the tension generated by the article,as the knitting needles (2) and the members (7) are disposed along acircumference having a radius lesser than that of the free portion ofthe article (1), that is, of the portion not engaged by the needles (2)nor by members (7). Afterwards, the arm (16) is lifted, along with tube(T) of machine (M) as shown in FIG. 5 and, after a possible interventionby the safety device (8), the tube (T) is brought back to its originalposition as illustrated in FIG. 6. At this point, the arm (16) isrotated, again by the action of cylinder (172), to dispose the carrier(PE), with the article (1) engaged therewith, into the station (R)wherein the hook-up operation will be performed. The eversion tube (TR)is introduced into the article (1) engaged with the carrier (PE), asshown in FIG. 7, and subsequently lifted up as shown in FIG. 8 to turnit inside out. At this point, the command is given for lifting thesecond movable carrier (SE). Because of the coaxiality of carriers (PE)and (SE) within the station (R) and the matching shape of the seatsexhibited by these carriers for rods (7), the free ends of same rods (7)result—upon completion of the step for lifting the second carrier(SE)—positioned within the seats (191) of the second carrier (SE), asillustrated in FIG. 8. At this point, the rods (7) are transferred fromthe first to the second movable carrier. In particular, provision ismade for disengaging the rods (7) from the gasket (152) by reducing thediameter of the latter which takes up, therefore, the configuration ofFIG. 38 or FIG. 40, and by acting on the corresponding gasket of thesecond movable carrier (SE) which in this way takes up a configurationcorresponding to that of FIG. 39 or FIG. 41. At the end of this step,the second movable carrier (SE) is lowered, as illustrated in FIG. 9, sothat, between the first and the second movable carrier, a space iscreated for the positioning of the third carrier (TE) which, in thecondition shown in FIG. 10, results coaxial to the second.

The transfer of rods (7) from the first to the second movable carrierimplies the disengagement of article (1) from the first carrier and itsengagement with the second carrier through the rods (7), but thisoperation takes place without further stress for the stitches of thelast rank which remain on the rods (7).

As previously set forth, for the third movable carrier (TE) to bedisposed coaxial with the second carrier, in spite of the presence oftube (TR), the arms (32, 33) which support the semicrowns (30, 31) ofthe third movable carrier (TE) are first stretched apart as shown inFIG. 42 and, afterwards, drawn back close to each other as shown in FIG.43. Then, the transfer device (11) is operated and, as it goes up,pushes upwards the stitches fitted onto rods (7) thus causing them to betransferred, that is, fitted onto the rods (9) and onto the spines (10)of the third movable carrier (TE). Subsequently, the said transferdevice (11) is lowered along with the second carrier (SE) therebyclearing the space beneath the third movable carrier (TE) as illustratedin FIG. 11, and the semicrown (31) of rods (9) is rotated through 180°about said axis (s-s) as shown in FIG. 12. At this point, as illustratedin FIG. 13, the stitches of rods (9) are transferred onto the spines(10) by means of the toothed semicrown (12). In this way, there isachieved a condition of coaxiality and juxtaposition of the stitches ofthe two semiranks, that is, of the two edges to be joined. In practice,upon completion of this step, each stitch of a semiranks lies on acorresponding spine (10) and the latter results matched, that is,coaxial and juxtaposed, with a corresponding stitch of the othersemirank present on the same spine (10). Thereafter, the semicrown (31)of rods (9) is rotated through 180° in a direction opposite to theprevious one in order to restore the initial condition, as illustratedin FIG. 14. At this point, it is possible to carry out the hook-up ofthe stitches being matched onto the spines (10) by a conventionalhook-up machine, as shown in FIG. 15 and, subsequently, to unload thearticle (1) in right-side out condition as represented in FIG. 16. Inparticular, it is possible to lower the tube (TR) to exert a top-downpush onto the joined stitches to release them from the spines (10) and,besides, the suction (AS) of the article (1) into the tube (TR) can beperformed with the aid of rod (14) as illustrated in FIG. 16. Once thearticle (1) is unloaded through the tube (TR), the latter is lifted andthen the semicrowns (30) and (31) are brought back to the respectivestart position to clear the space between the first and second movablecarriers (PE, SE). Following this, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, thefirst and second movable carriers (PE, SE) are moved again close to oneanother and the transfer of members (7) from the second (SE) to thefirst movable carrier (PE) takes place through a reverse sequence ofoperations, so that the apparatus results in the configuration taken upat the start of the operating cycle above described, ready to carry outa further cycle.

With reference to FIGS. 20-36, the present invention can also beimplemented according a further operating method, again relating to theproduction of a stocking by a one-cylinder circular machine (M) providedwith a plate. Such method implies the steps described in relation to theexample of FIGS. 1-18 with the differences set forth below.

In a manner substantially similar to what has been illustrated in FIGS.1-2A, at the end of the knitting step, the plate group (P) and theneedles (2) of machine (M) as well are lifted until the respectivestitches result “unloaded” (also in this case, a stitch is said to be in“unloaded position” when it results fitted onto a needle and disposedbelow the relevant latch).

At this point, a first movable carrier (PE′) is positioned so that, atend of this step (illustrated in FIG. 19) it is in axial alignment withthe cylinder (3) of needles (2), with the free end of each removalmember (7) being in contact with the crook of a relevant needle (2),thereby determining the so-called “covering” condition previouslymentioned.

The first movable carrier (PE′) used for implementing this methoddiffers from that previously described in that it is of modularconstruction and comprises a semicrown (SC) associated in stable butremovable manner to said carrier: the removal members (7) (which in thewhole develop circularly along an entire circumference) are subdividedinto an upper semicrown (SU) (on the right side in FIG. 19), like it isprovided for the movable carrier (PE) utilizable for the implementationof the method previously described, and a lower removable semicrown (SC)(on the left side in FIG. 19). This allows differentiating the twosemiranks which form the last rank of stitches. In other words, the saidremoval step provides for engaging the two fabric's semiransks with themembers (7) associated with two different semicrowns, a first one (SU)coinciding with the main part of the movable carrier (PE′), and a secondone made up of the removable semicrown (SC). Obviously, the length ofthe removal members (7) will be differentiated, a greater length beingprovided for the members (7) associated with the semicrown (SU) and aminor length for those associated with the semicrown (SC), so that thefree ends of members (7) associated with these two supports (SU, SC)disposed as shown in FIGS. 19, 20, 21 and 22, will result all at thesame level. A possible embodiment of the modular carrier (PE′) beingdescribed later on.

Thereafter, the said carrier (PE′) is lowered as shown in FIG. 20 byprocedures similar to those provided for the method already described,and subsequently lifted, as shown in FIG. 21, simultaneously to the tube(T), so that the mouth of the latter will result at a level higher thanthat of the free ends of the removal members (7). Also in this case, thelifting of tube (T) is not strictly necessary for carrying out thisstep, but it may serve to assist the lifting of the article (1) togetherwith carrier (PE′) and to prevent one or more stitches from disengagingfrom relevant removal members (7). Moreover, and likewise the previousmethod, a safety device (8) may be used which consists of a portion of acircular crown borne at the end of a support arm (as shown in FIG. 22).

The first movable carrier (PE′) is then moved to the hook-up station (R)and an everting tube (TR) is inserted therein (FIG. 23). The article (1)is then turned inside out, as shown in FIG. 24, after having moved awaythe device (8) if any. In this way, the article results oriented in afashion contrary to the starting one, that is, with the part includingthe last rank turned downwards and the remaining part turned upwards, sothat the stitches of the last rank result below all the other stitchesof the article.

Thereafter, a second movable carrier (SE) is drawn near the first one(PE′) (as shown in FIG. 24) to transfer the removal members (7) of thefirst semirank, that is, those supported by the first semicrown (SU), tothe second movable carrier (SE), by inserting them into the respectiveseats. This step may be performed by moving the second carrier (SE)close to the first (PE) as illustrated in FIG. 24 and, once the transferis completed, by moving the semicrown (SU) of the first movable carrier(PE) away from the second carrier (SE), as illustrated in FIG. 25. Inthis step, the second semicrown (SC) remains close to the second movablecarrier (SE) to maintain a condition of substantial coplanarity of allthe stitches of the last knitted rank.

At this point, as illustrated in FIG. 26, a third carrier (TE′) is drawnnear the tube (TR), said third carrier being made up of a semicrownprovided with a plurality of retention members (10) intended to retainthe stitches (MA) of the last rank of article (1) for a subsequenthook-up step, the same members being disposed according to asemicircumference. The said third carrier (TE′) is positioned betweenthe crown (SU) of carrier (PE′) and the group formed by the semicrown(SC) and second movable carrier (SE). Prior to said positioning, thethird carrier (TE′) results located at a corresponding stand-by positionoutside the station (R). The handling of the arm (32) which supports thethird carrier (TE′) is achieved by means of an actuator in a mannersimilar to that described above for the third carrier (TE).

The said stitch-retaining members for the hook-up (10) may consist, asin the example referring to the third movable carrier (TE) abovedescribed, of a plurality of hook-up spines (10). As illustrated in FIG.27, the transfer of the stitches from the members (7) disposed upon thesecond movable carrier to the spines (10) can be made by using a collarflange (11′) similar to that (11) previously described. Concurrentlywith the lifting of the flange (11′) which, likewise the flange (11)previously described, pushes the stitches fitted on rods (7) upwards totransfer the same stitches onto the spines (10), there is occurs thelifting of the semicrown (SC) to maintain the condition of substantialcoplanarity of all the stitches (MA) of the last rank.

Upon completion of this step, the article results engaged via a semirankof stitches (MA) with the members (10) of the third movable carrier(TE′), and via the other semirank of stitches of the last knitted rank,with the members (7) of the removable semicrown (SC), that is, with thesemirank's stitches fitted on the spines (10) and with the othersemirank's stitches fitted on the members (7) presented by the semicrown(SC) (as shown in FIG. 28). At this point, as illustrated in FIGS. 29and 30, the third carrier (TE′) is rotated through 1800 (in clockwisedirection in FIG. 29) in order to dispose the stitches of the firstsemirank coaxial and juxtaposed with respect to the stitches of thesecond semirank. The stitches (MA) fitted on the members (7) borne bythe semicrown (SC) are then transferred onto the spines (10) of thethird movable carrier (TE′) by using, for example, the rod (12) which,as shown in FIG. 30, pushes the stitches fitted on the rods (7)downwards to transfer the same stitches onto the spines (10) of thethird movable carrier (TE′). Upon completion of this step, the stitchesof the two semiranks, into which it can be ideally considered subdividedthe last rank of stitches, result fitted in pairs, coaxial andjuxtaposed on the spines (10), ready for hooking-up. The third carrier(TE′) is again rotated as far as its initial position (FIGS. 31 and 32)to allow starting the hook-up of stitches so disposed and ending it withthe formation of one or more closing knots (FIG. 33). At the end of thisstep, the article (1), which initially exhibited both ends open, resultsnow with one end closed by the hook-up operated on the inner orinside-out part. Finally, as illustrated in FIG. 34, the thus linkedstitches are released; this step can be carried out by lowering theeverting tube (TR) and using a rod (14) introduced into the same tube(TR) by such a length as to determine the turning right-side out of thearticle (1) which, in this way, is introduced into the tube (TR) andsucked to be ejected in right-side out condition (in FIG. 34, thedirection of suction being indicated with AS). Afterwards, the thirdmovable carrier (TE′) is moved away, the tube (TR) is lifted, that is,brought back to its starting position as illustrated in FIG. 35, and thesecond carrier (SE) is firstly moved close to the first (PE′) to allowthe transfer of members (7) onto the semicrown (SU), and then moved backto the respective starting position, as illustrated in FIG. 36, so thatthe reset first carrier (PE′), again provided with all the members (7),is able to be repositioned in the knitting station (TS) for thetreatment of a further article.

The said first modular carrier (PE′) can be made by using a flange (SCC)supported by the arm (16) which, likewise the carrier (PE), allows thehandling thereof between the station (TS) and station (R). The saidflange (SCC), as illustrated in FIG. 54, has a lower semicircularportion (SCI) having engaged therewith the semicrown (SC) which supportsthe shortest of members (7), and an upper cylindrical portion (SCS)connected without solution of continuity to the lower one (SCI). Theupper portion (SCS) of the flange (SCC) is associated with an actuator(SA) supported by said arm (16) by means of a corresponding support (BS)fixed on the upper side of arm (16). Starting the actuator (SA) causesthe semicrown (SC) of carrier (PE′) to move to the lowered position ofFIGS. 25-31 and, respectively, to the lifted position of FIGS. 19-24,32-36 and 54.

As previously set forth, the present invention is applicable also totwo-cylinder circular machines. With reference to FIGS. 64-70, a methodaccording to the invention may include the operating steps describedbelow.

Likewise the method described with reference to FIGS. 1-18, this methodprovides for knitting a stock (1) starting from the leg part and endingthe knitting with the formation of a rank of terminal stitchescorresponding to the stocking's toe, which results open (FIG. 64). Theknitting of the article (1) is carried out in a conventional way, but byusing a two-cylinder circular machine (MD), with a lower cylinder (L)and an upper cylinder (U).

Such a machine is known per se and commercially available. For example,use can be made of a machine model “Sangiacomo INES”, produced by theCompany Sangiacomo SpA, or a machine model “Silver” produced by MATECSpA or any other equivalent machine.

In conformity to the implementation of this method, the upper cylinder(U), after the knitting step above described, is raised and moved awayfrom the lower cylinder (L), as illustrated in FIG. 65. Under thiscondition, with the upper cylinder (U) being lifted up, the stitches ofthe last rank result in the so-called “unloaded” position, that is, aspointed out before, the said stitches result on the needles (2)associated with the lower cylinder (L) and disposed below the relevantlatches.

At this point, after the positioning of the first movable carrier (PE)between the two cylinders (U, L) of the machine (MD), as illustrated inFIG. 66, the stitches of the last rank of article (1) are transferredfrom the needles (2) to a plurality of corresponding removal members (7)disposed on said first movable carrier (PE) so that, at the end of thisstep, each stitch of the last rank will result transferred from therespective needle (2) to a corresponding removal member (7) (see FIGS.67 and 68).

Subsequently, the steps are mainly similar to those previouslydescribed, as illustrated for example in FIG. 69 which shows the liftingof the first movable carrier with the article disengaged from theknitting needles of the lower cylinder and engaged with the removalmembers (7), and in FIG. 70 which refers to the approach of a safetydevice (8) to the first movable carrier (PE).

In practice, in relation to the method described with reference to FIGS.1-18, the only difference lies in the fact that the article (1) isproduced by a two-cylinder machine (MD) instead of by a one-cylindermachine (M).

FIGS. 71-82 relate to further exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention which show possible (not limiting) solutions of somemechanical parts previously described. It should be noted that FIG. 71is identical to FIG. 2A and is shown once more only for the sake ofrepresentation.

In particular, FIGS. 72-80 show means (80) able to define a cast-offplane for the removal of the stitches, which means are also able to actas a safety device by performing the same function as the device (8)previously described.

When the circular machine (M) (of single cylinder type in this case) hasits plate and knitting needles lifted up, with the stitches of the lastknitted rank in the so-called “unloaded” position (FIG. 71), a firstmovable carrier (PE) is disposed likewise that described above betweenthe plate group (P) and the cylinder of needles (2). In this case,however, and as can be seen in FIGS. 72-76, the said means (80) consistof a support body (88) shaped like a circular crown inside which aplurality of rods are positioned each of which can be moved radially,for example by using a relevant heel (82) associated with acorresponding operating cam (not shown in the drawings for the sake ofclarity). The said means (80) are disposed circumferentially around theneedles (2) of cylinder (3), and the said rods (81) result radiallymovable from and to the longitudinal axis of the same cylinder.

The said rods (81) can be disposed either in an active configuration (asillustrated in FIGS. 72-75, 78 and 79) in which the means (80) definethe cast-off plane (PA) and act as a safety device, or in inoperativeconfiguration, illustrated in FIGS. 76, 77 and 80, wherein they resultretracted, that is, kept outside the trajectory of needles (2).

Illustrated in FIGS. 81 and 82 is a further exemplary embodiment of themeans apt to alternatively define a cast-off plane. In this case, themeans are made up of a plurality of levers (88) disposedcircumferentially and having fulcrum on a support crown (86) whichdevelops around and externally to the needles (2). Each lever (88) hasan inner portion (87) and an outer portion (89) disposed on oppositesides with respect to the fulcrum. Provided around the support crown(86) is a drive crown (90) able to be moved vertically with respect tosaid support crown (86). In its vertical travel, the drive crown (90)abuts onto the outer portion (89) of lever (88), thereby displacingupwardly the inner portion (87) which, in this configuration, defines acast-off plane for the stitches (MA).

The said crown (90) is associated with a corresponding actuator (notshown) which determines the positioning thereof like that of FIG. 81and, respectively of FIG. 82.

The example illustrated in FIGS. 91-111 refers to the application of amethod according to the invention for the formation and development of astocking (1) present in the upper cylinder (U) of a two-cylinder machine(FIG. 91) at the end of formation of the same stocking. Once thisknitting step is completed, the needles (2) are associated with theupper cylinder (U), as shown in FIG. 92. Thereafter, the upper cylinder(U) is lifted, along with needles (2) and article (1), so as to create aspace for the positioning of the first movable carrier (PE) between theupper and lower cylinders of the machine (FIGS. 93 and 94). Afterwards,the said carrier (PE) is lifted up until the members (7) supported bysame carrier fit into the stitches of the last knitted rank by takingthe place of the needles (2), as illustrated in FIGS. 95 and 96. Then,the carrier (PE) is lowered (FIG. 97) together with the tube (T) presentin the upper cylinder (U) to fully disengage the stocking (1) from thesame cylinder and possibly using the safety device (8) as shown in FIG.98. At the end of this step, the carrier (PE) is disposed in the station(R), as illustrated in FIG. 99, the safety device (8) is moved awayafter introducing from below the eversion tube (TR) up into the stocking(1), the second carrier (SE) is drawn near the first carrier (FIG. 100)and the tube (TR) is lowered to turn the stocking (1) inside out.Afterwards, the members (7) are transferred to the second carrier (SE),so that the stocking (1) results engaged with the latter and no longerengaged with the first carrier (PE), and the second carrier (SE) ismoved apart from the first (PE) to make. room for the third carrier(TE), as illustrated in FIGS. 101 and 102, after which the stitches ofthe last knitted rank are transferred onto the rods (9) and onto thespines (10) of the third carrier (TE) so that each stitch of a semirankwill result transferred onto a corresponding rod (9), and each stitch ofthe other semirank will result transferred onto a corresponding spine(10). Subsequently, the second carrier (SE) is moved away from the thirdcarrier (FIG. 103) and the semicrown of rods (9) is rotated through 180°(FIG. 104) to dispose the stitches of the last rank in a position readyfor the hook-up operation. At the end of this step, the toothedsemicrown (12) is made to operate, as illustrated in FIG. 105, totransfer onto the spines (10) the stitches fitted on rods (9), afterwhich the semicrown of rods (9) is brought back to the starting position(FIG. 106) and the hook-up device (RI) is made to link the stitchesbeing disposed in pairs coaxial and juxtaposed on the spines (10). Atthis point, the tube (TR) is lifted (FIG. 108) to disengage the stitchesfrom the spines (10). The stocking (1) can thus be ejected without beingfurther turned inside out, since it is already in the right-side outcondition after having been picked up from the upper cylinder (U) of theknitting machine. It should be understood, however, that the stockingcan be turned inside out after this hook-up operation (FIG. 109) ifnecessary. Finally, the members (7) are brought back onto the firstcarrier (PE) thereby restoring the initial condition of the system(FIGS. 110 and 111).

The modified embodiment shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 116-127,provides, subsequently to the steps already described with reference toFIGS. 1-6 (knitting of the article, removal of the stitches of last rankand transfer thereof to a station R other than that for knitting) forthe following operating steps:

at station (R), introducing an everter tube (TR) inside the article (1)(FIG. 116);

turning the article (1) inside out by lifting the tube (TR), drawing therods (9) and spines (10) near the members (7) having present thereon theterminal stitches of article (1) and, with the aid of crown (11) forcingsaid stitches to fit on the rods and on the corresponding spines byexerting, through the same crown (11), a thrust directed from topdownwards on the stitches (FIG. 117), the said rods (9) and the saidspines (10) being supported by a corresponding carrier (SE′);

moving the carrier (SE′) away from carrier (PE) of members (7) to makeroom for another carrier (QE) between them (FIG. 118);

drawing the carrier (QE) near the carrier (SE′) and transferring therods (9) and spines (10) from the carrier (SE′) to the carrier (QE)(FIG. 119);

moving the carrier (SE′) away from carrier (QE);

disposing in coaxial and juxtaposed relationship the stitchesrespectively engaged with rods (9) and spines (10), that is, in a presetconfiguration ready for hook-up (FIGS. 121 and 122);

restoring the initial condition of carrier (QE) (FIG. 123);

carrying out the hook-up of edges (L1, L2) to be joined (FIG. 124);

releasing the stitches from the spines (10) having served as a supportfor said hook-up operation (FIG. 125);

transferring the rods (9) and spines (10) from the carrier (QE) tocarrier (SE′) (FIG. 126);

moving all the elements back to the respective original positions toallow the starting of a further operating cycle (FIG. 127).

In order to implement this operative procedure, the members (7) may besimply fixed to the carrier (PE), as their transfer onto other carriersof the apparatus is not required. In this case, however, the rods (9)and spines (10) are stably but removably associated with the carriers(SE′) and (QE).

To this end, as illustrated in FIGS. 128-138, the carrier (SE′) is madeup of two semicrowns (HH, HK) each of which is provided with seats forreceiving the rods (9) and respectively the spines (10). The rods (9)are shaped equally in correspondence of the respective ends and exhibita lateral recess to allow the retention thereof by an elasticallydeformable gasket designated in the drawings of FIGS. 131-134 by thesame numeral (152) as in FIGS. 38-41. The same holds true for theelements designated with numerals (150), (151), (153), (154), (155) and(156) which operate and interact as described with reference to FIGS.38-41. The semicrown (HK) exhibits a plurality of seats (180) able toform corresponding dovetail guides for the spines (10), with a terminalstop means (181). The spines (10) in question may be retained within therespective seats by an elastic annular gasket (152) housed in acorresponding seat (182) of the semicrown (HK) and associated with asystem for the introduction of compressed air through channels (155,156) formed in the same semicrown (HK), likewise it has been previouslydescribed with reference to the example of FIGS. 38-41. The spines (10)have a substantial straight development, as can be seen in FIGS.135-137, are provided with two recesses (900) to further ease the actionof the elastic ring (152) upon the expansion of the latter, and have thesame shape at both ends. On the side (910) intended for the introductionof spines (10) into the guides (180), the said spines have the sameprofile as guides (180). On the opposite side, the spines (10) exhibit alongitudinal recess (911) for the needle of the hook-up machine (RI).

The carrier (QE) is shaped like the carrier (SE′) as far as the systemfor housing the rods (9) and spines (10) is concerned, and is shapedlike the carrier (TE) illustrated in FIGS. 42-45 as far as the systemfor opening and tongs-like closing the semicrowns (310, 300) as well asthe system for rotating the semicrown of rods (9) to dispose thestitches in hook-up condition are concerned.

The present invention further allows also for handling stitches ofstraight textile articles besides those of tubular shape.

The example diagrammatically depicted in FIGS. 139-147 relates actuallyto the treatment of an article (1) knitted on a rectilinear instead ofcircular machine, to allow depositing the fabric onto either the samemachine or a different machine in reverse orientation, that is, with theright-side out part (LD) being inside out (LR) so as to go on with theknitting to achieve a knitted article with right and reverse bands bymeans also of one single front, that is, by a machine (known per se tothose skilled in the art) able to knit only on the right-side out. Shownin the example of FIGS. 139-147 is just the minimum knitting unit of themachine, that is, the individual needle (2) with the individual sinker(4), while it will be appreciated that the same steps and considerationsapply whatever the number of needles the machine is provided with. Withreference to this example, the operating method can be implemented asfollows:

knitting the article (1) as far as a preset height with a rectilinearmachine having a simple front of latched needles (2) and movable sinkers(4) which, likewise what has been described with reference to theknitting of tubular articles, delimit a cast-off plane for the stitches(FIG. 139);

lifting the needles (2) by placing the stitches of the last rank inunloaded position, that is, under the end of latches (21) and moving thehead (22) of each needle (2) close to a corresponding member (7)intended for picking up the stitch last formed thereon (FIG. 140), themembers (7) being stably but removably associated with a correspondingsupport carrier (PE);

lowering the carrier (PE) along with members (7) by determining thetransfer of the last rank's stitches of needles (2) to the members (7)(FIG. 141);

disengaging the article (1) from the textile machine by lifting thecarrier (PE) along with members (7) (FIG. 142);

transferring the carrier (PE) with article (1) to a station other thanthat for knitting (FIG. 143);

transferring the said members onto a second support carrier (SE) (FIGS.144 and 145);

transferring the said second carrier (SE) to the knitting station (FIG.146) and drawing the now free end of each member (7) close to the head(22) of a corresponding needle (2) by transferring the stitches from themembers (7) to the needles (2);

moving away the said second carrier and going on with the knitting (FIG.147).

It will be appreciated that this cycle can be repeated a preset numberof times.

Practically, all the construction details may vary in any equivalent wayas far as the shape, dimensions, elements disposition, nature of theused materials are concerned, without nevertheless departing from thescope of the adopted solution idea and, thereby, remaining within thelimits of the protection granted to the present patent for industrialinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. Method of handling or moving the stitches of atextile article, the method comprising removing the stitches from theneedles of a textile machine by which the transferring article is formedat a first station, transferring the article from said first station toa second operating station, said transfer being operated by engaging thesaid stitches with a plurality of members intended for the removal ofsame stitches from the needles of the textile machine and transferringsaid members from said first station to said second station,characterized in that it comprises the reversible transfer of at leastone portion of said removal members from a first support or carrierwhich is being movable from said first and second stations to a secondsupport or carrier intended for temporary retaining the said at leastone portion of removal members along with the stitches being removed bythem, and/or the reversible transfer of a plurality of members, intendedfor the temporary retention of the stitches and not involved in theremoval of same stitches from said needles, between two movable supportsor carriers.
 2. Method of joining the two edges of a tubular knittedarticle, the said two edges being delimited by a plurality or rank ofstitches (MA), method comprising the removal of said stitches (MA) fromthe needles (2) of a machine (M; MD) by means of which it is provided toform the article (1) at a first station (TS), the transfer of thearticle (1) from said first station (TS) to a second operating station,the said transfer being operated by engaging the said stitches (MA) witha plurality of members (7) intended for removing the stitches from theneedles (2) of the knitting machine (M; MD) and transferring saidmembers (7) from said first station to said second station, methodcomprising also joining or hooking-up the edges of the article (1) whichare delimited by said rank of stitches (MA) subsequently the positioningof the latter in a preset hook-up configuration, characterized in that,prior to said hook-up step, it implies the reversible transfer of atleast part of said removal members (7) from a first support or carrier(PE; PE′) movable between said first and second station and a secondsupport or carrier (SE) intended for temporarily retaining the said atleast part of removal members (7) together with the stitches (MA) theyhave removed.
 3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that itincludes transferring the stitches (MA) engaged with the removal members(7) transferred onto said second support (SE) by the same members to aplurality of members (10) mounted on a third support (TE; TE′) andintended for retaining the said stitches (MA) during said hook-up step.4. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the said secondstation coincides with the station (R) wherein the hook-up step isperformed.
 5. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that thesaid configuration for hooking-up the stitches (MA) corresponds to aconfiguration in which the stitches (MA) of the last knitted rank whichdelimit the two edges of the article to be joined are disposedselectively juxtaposed and coaxial.
 6. Method according to claim 2,characterized in that the said article (1) is a stocking.
 7. Methodaccording to claim 2, characterized in that the said stitches (MA)delimit the part corresponding to the stocking's toe.
 8. Methodaccording to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises making thestocking (1) starting from the hem and ending with the partcorresponding to the toe.
 9. Method according to claim 2, characterizedin that the machine by which the article (1) is made is either aone-cylinder (M) or a two-cylinder (MD) circular knitting machine. 10.Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the said hook-upoperation is performed on the article (1) being turned inside out. 11.Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the said hook-upoperation is performed on the article (1) being turned right-side out.12. Apparatus for handling or moving the stitches of a textile articleby a corresponding textile machine provided with a plurality of knittingneedles, apparatus comprising a plurality of members intended for theremoval of same stitches from the needles of the machine by which thearticle is made and intended for transferring the same stitches from thestation wherein the said knitting machine is located to a differentoperating station, characterized in that it comprises at least a firstand a second supports or carriers provided with seats for receiving in astable but removable manner the said stitch-removing members and/or aplurality of members, intended for the temporary retention of thestitches and not involved in the removal of same stitches from saidneedles.
 13. Apparatus for carrying out the junction of the stitches(MA) of a terminal rank of a tubular article (1) knitted by acorresponding textile machine (M; MD) comprising a plurality of knittingneedles (2), apparatus comprising a plurality of members (7) intendedfor removing the said stitches (MA) from the needles (2) of the machine(MA; MD) by which the article (1) is made and intended for transferringthe same stitches from the station (TS) wherein the said machine (M; MD)is located to a different operating station, characterized in that itcomprises a first and a second support or carrier (PE; PE′; SE) providedwith seats (157, 191) for receiving the said members (7) in a stable butremovable manner.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized inthat it comprises means for engaging the said members (7) within saidseats (157, 191) and respectively disengaging them therefrom. 15.Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that said means forengaging the said members (7) within said seats (157, 191) anddisengaging them therefrom are mounted both on said first carrier (PE;PE′) and on said second carrier (SE).
 16. Apparatus according to claim13 characterized in that said members (7) intended for removing saidstitches (MA) are constituted by rod members.
 17. Apparatus according toclaim 13, characterized in that the said members (7) are angularlydisplaced between them likewise said knitting needles (2).
 18. Apparatusaccording to claim 13, characterized in that the said first carrier(PE), and respectively the said second carrier (SE), comprise astructure with two concentric elements (150, 151; 19, 190) which delimita plurality of seats (157; 191) to receive stably but removably the saidremoval members (7) therein.
 19. Apparatus according to claim 13,characterized in that, disposed between said two concentric elements(150, 151; 19, 190) is an annular gasket (152) made from elasticallydeformable material and means able to increase and respectively reducethe diameter of said annular gasket in order to engage said members (7)with their relevant seats (157; 191) and respectively disengaging themtherefrom.
 20. Apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in thatthe said means able to increase and respectively reduce the diameter ofsaid annular gasket (152) comprise an annular wedge (154) associatedwith a corresponding linear actuator.
 21. Apparatus according to claim19, characterized in that the said means able to increase andrespectively reduce the diameter of said annular gasket (152) are fluidmedia.
 22. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that thesaid removal members (7) of stitches (MA) exhibit lateral recesses (72)in correspondence of points of interaction with the said gasket (152).23. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the saidfirst movable carrier (PE; PE′) is fixed to a corresponding arm (16)associated with a corresponding actuator (172) which drives it intorotation about the axis of a shaft (17) supporting it, from and to thesaid first and second stations.
 24. Apparatus according to claim 13,characterized in that the said first and second carriers (PE; PE′, SE)can be positioned at different operating heights.
 25. Apparatusaccording to claim 23, characterized in that the said arm (16) isassociated with a corresponding linear actuator (18) which operates thelifting and, respectively, the lowering thereof.
 26. Apparatus accordingto claim 13, characterized in that the said first support or carrier(PE′) is of modular type.
 27. Apparatus according to claim 13,characterized in that it comprises means (TE; TE′) on which the staidstitches (MA) are to be disposed in a hook-up configuration, and meansfor transferring thereon the stitches already supported by said carrieror support (SE).
 28. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized inthat the said means for transferring the stitches from the second to thethird carrier comprise a flange (11; 11′) movable between said secondand third carrier.
 29. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized inthat the said means (TE; TE′) for supporting the stitches (MA) inhook-up configuration comprise a semicircular front of hook-up spines(10).
 30. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that thesaid means (TE; TE′) for supporting the stitches (MA) in hook-upconfiguration comprise a semicircular front of hook-up spines (10) and afront of rods (9) angularly spaced apart likewise said knitting needles(2): the front of rods (9) being on a support (31) movable from and tothe front of spines (10).
 31. Apparatus according to claim 13,characterized in that the support (30) of spines (10) and the support(31) of rods (9) are borne by two corresponding arms (32, 33) connectedto each other by a hinge (323).
 32. Apparatus according to claim 13,characterized in that at least one of the ends (70, 71) of said rods (7)is either shaped like a cap or is provided with a notch.
 33. Methodaccording to claim 6, characterized in that the said stitches (MA)delimit the part corresponding to the stocking's toe.
 34. Methodaccording to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises making thestocking (1) starting from the hem and ending with the partcorresponding to the toe.
 35. Apparatus according to claim 13,characterized in that it comprises means for engaging the said members(7) within said seats (157, 191) and respectively disengaging themtherefrom.
 36. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in thatsaid means for engaging the said members (7) within said seats (157,191) and disengaging them therefrom are mounted both on said firstcarrier (PE; PE′) and on said second carrier (SE).
 37. Apparatusaccording to claim 18, characterized in that, disposed between said twoconcentric elements (150, 151; 19, 190) is an annular gasket (152) madefrom elastically deformable material and means able to increase andrespectively reduce the diameter of said annular gasket in order toengage said members (7) with their relevant seats (157; 191) andrespectively disengaging them therefrom.
 38. Apparatus according toclaim 19, characterized in that the said removal members (7) of stitches(MA) exhibit lateral recesses (72) in correspondence of points ofinteraction with the said gasket (152).
 39. Apparatus according to claim27, characterized in that the said means for transferring the stitchesfrom the second to the third carrier comprise a flange (11; 11′) movablebetween said second and third carrier.
 40. Apparatus according to claim27, characterized in that the said means (TE; TE′) for supporting thestitches (MA) in hook-up configuration comprise a semicircular front ofhook-up spines (10).
 41. Apparatus according to claim 27, characterizedin that the said means (TE; TE′) for supporting the stitches (MA) inhook-up configuration comprise a semicircular front of hook-up spines(10) and a front of rods (9) angularly spaced apart likewise saidknitting needles (2): the front of rods (9) being on a support (31)movable from and to the front of spines (10).
 42. Apparatus according toclaim 30, characterized in that the support (30) of spines (10) and thesupport (31) of rods (9) are borne by two corresponding arms (32, 33)connected to each other by a hinge (323).
 43. Apparatus according toclaim 16, characterized in that at least one of the ends (70, 71) ofsaid rods (7) is either shaped like a cap or is provided with a notch.